New Purdue Coach Plans Ahead

December 07, 1990|By Bill Jauss.

Jim Colletto may have set a record for quick starts Thursday.

Just a couple of hours after the 45-year-old offensive coordinator from Ohio State was signed as head coach at Purdue, succeeding Fred Akers, he was making decisive plans about the future of Boilermaker football.

In rapid-fire order, Colletto discussed recruiting in the Chicago area, his role as a disciplinarian and the role of the quarterback at Purdue in the 1990s.

``We`ll recruit Chicago very hard,`` said Colletto, ``as we did when I was at Purdue before (1982-84) and had (Eastern Illinois coach) Bob Spoo on the staff.``

Colletto said he intends to have at least one assistant coach, probably two, with Chicago backgrounds.

Akers` teams had been troubled by off-field disciplinary problems.

The new coach made it clear where he stands on such issues.

``I want the players to know they can expect certain things of me,`` he said. ``Medical care, the finest of uniforms, facilities that are second to none. In return, there are things they owe me: going to class, keeping their noses clean. Some of the same things I expect of my own children.``

Through the decades, Purdue has been known as the school of great quarterbacks: Bob DeMoss, Dale Samuels, Len Dawson, Bob Griese, Mike Phipps, Gary Danielson, Mark Herrmann, Scott Campbell, Jim Everett. That string was broken when Jeff George, leader of Illinois` 1989 title team and now rookie star with the Indianapolis Colts, transferred from Purdue to the Illini. Purdue was quarterbacked last year by strong-armed sophomore Eric Hunter.

Colletto, Greg Frey`s guru at Ohio State in recent years, vowed the tradition of fine quarterbacks will continue at Purdue under his direction.

``It will be the same at Purdue as it`s always been,`` Colletto said.

``Frey ranked No. 2 in Ohio State history. Everett and Campbell quarterbacked when I was at Purdue before. Eric Hunter is in the right place if he wants to become a star.``

Colletto has assisted John Cooper for the last six years, three at Ohio State and the previous three at Arizona State.

Colletto is recognized as one of the top offensive strategists in college football. He was a running back at UCLA and captained the 1965 team that sprang a colossal upset when it knocked off Bubba Smith and the Michigan State Spartans in the Rose Bowl.